Healthcare in the U.S. consumes almost 18% of the nation's GDP, more than $4 trillion yearly. While there have been major advances in medicine, the impact on reducing chronic diseases isn’t keeping up. Cases of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease continue to grow. Our traditional approach to healthcare focuses on treating symptoms after they appear, instead of addressing root causes. The landscape is changing though. People are becoming more aware of other options when it comes to taking charge of one’s health. Active prevention and lifestyle changes are becoming normalized. In this series, we’ll explore how combining conventional medicine and preventative care helps you take control of your health and improve wellness.

The Strengths and Limits of Conventional Medicine

Traditional medicine has a role. When treating emergencies and conditions that pose a threat to life, it is essential. The US healthcare system is unparalleled when it comes to infections, procedures, and trauma. However, it has trouble with chronic, long-term illnesses. Mental health, our current food supply, environmental toxins, and lack of exercise influence many of these disorders.

Take type 2 diabetes for example, which results from the body becoming insulin resistant. Medication is frequently used in traditional treatments to control blood sugar levels. It does not address lifestyle factors that cause insulin resistance, such as an unhealthy diet or insufficient exercise. GLP-1 receptor agonists are beneficial tools, but they are only good if they are incorporated as a part of a larger strategy that also includes lifestyle modifications. The key is to have a strategy that includes stress management, nutrition, and exercise.

Why Personal Ownership is Important

As previously mentioned, we are all becoming more aware that taking control of our health decisions is more than just following a doctor's orders. Unfortunately, medical training is becoming so specialized that multiple practitioners are often needed to solve multi-system conditions. A cardiologist, pulmonologist, etc. each providing their expertise for a given set of symptoms that fall within their sphere of advanced knowledge. This leaves the open question of who is “quarterbacking” the overall patient care. The answer? You! It means making informed choices about your life. This includes how you eat, move, and manage stress. The latest data from the CDC shows that 35% of adults in 23 states are classified as obese. Ten years prior, no single state registered at or above this rate. We know that many of these cases are preventable. Physical activity, a balanced diet, and stress management can make a huge difference.

When you focus on prevention, you reduce your risk of chronic diseases. Conventional medicine is crucial when illness arises. But by owning your wellness, you lessen the need for reactive care. This is where preventative therapies come in.

Insulin Resistance and Obesity: A New Approach

Insulin resistance has become a common household name lately due to the explosion of GLP-1 medications. If you have not used these medications, chances are very high that you know someone who has. A lot of factors go into our bodies becoming insulin resistant, but the important thing to remember is that it is a major cause of obesity and type 2 diabetes. It happens when the body stops responding to insulin which leads to high blood sugar and increased fat storage.

Medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide mimic the body’s GLP-1 hormone. The hormone that regulates insulin and hunger. GLP-1 medications help people tune back into natural hunger cues. They slow digestion, promote fullness, and prevent overeating. This allows the body to return to a balanced state.

When used under the guidance of a qualified clinician, one that actually tailors the plan to your individual body‘s response, they are a useful tool to help manage insulin and bring you down to a healthier weight. Ideally, the long-term goal is to use this as a reset and make lasting lifestyle changes. This includes mindful eating, exercise, and stress management. In the second article in this series, we’ll explore how these strategies can help manage insulin resistance and improve many downstream factors.

Inflammation: A Common Factor in Chronic Conditions

Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection. But when it becomes chronic, it leads to diseases like arthritis and heart disease. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms of these diseases. However, alternative therapies focus on reducing the inflammation itself.

Our third article will explain how inflammation plays a key role in chronic conditions. We'll explore how diet, stress management, and other therapies can help reduce inflammation.

Optimizing Hormonal Health: Feeling Your Best, Not Just "In Range"

Ever feel like you can’t keep up with what you used to be able to do? Brain fog, lack of quality sleep, hot flashes, low energy, and low libido? Chances are your hormones are not at an optimal level for you. The traditional approach in medicine is to check your blood work to determine if you fall within the "normal" range for your age. However, that normal range is very wide and that gives you no solace if you’re sitting at the very bottom. There are better options. Those in the regenerative health space refer to aging as a disease, one that we can actively improve upon. We don’t have to wait for our bodies to naturally decline in health like prior generations. Optimizing your hormones is about enhancing your energy, mood, and overall well-being, not just meeting age-based standards.

In the fourth article, we’ll explore how optimizing hormones can help you feel your best, rather than settling for the "you’re just getting old" excuse to explain how you’re feeling.

Environmental Toxins: Protecting Your Long-Term Health

Each day, we’re exposed to toxins like pesticides and chemicals. These substances affect our health. They can contribute to hormonal imbalances, cancer, and more. Yet, they’re often overlooked in routine healthcare.

Certainly, some steps can be implemented to reduce our exposure by choosing organic foods and toxin-free products. That’s not enough though as they are actively allowed into our food supply. Take, for example, some breakfast cereals that are proudly marked by highly esteemed medical associations giving their badge of acceptance despite being highly processed and overly sugar-laden. In the fifth article, we’ll look at how environmental factors impact health. We’ll also share steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

The Need for Both Medicine and Prevention

There is no question that our traditional healthcare model is important to society, but in the interest of improving our long-term health, active preventative care falls on the individual. Seeking out currently available alternative therapies will improve our healthspan and quality of life. The growing support behind the science and research is yielding some amazing therapies that significantly change how we view aging. Small, consistent changes today will amplify the results over time.

A Better Path to Health

In the upcoming articles, we’ll cover each of these topics. Our goal is to help you take control of your health by addressing insulin resistance, inflammation, optimizing hormones, and reducing environmental toxins.

This series offers a balanced view of healthcare. It recognizes the benefits of conventional medicine while stressing the importance of prevention. With the right knowledge and tools, you can take control of your health. Wellness is not just something you seek when problems arise, but something you maintain.

Stay tuned for the next article on insulin resistance and obesity. We’ll show how lifestyle changes and modern medications can help manage these conditions for better long-term health.